Tilting body railway car



March 26, 1963 A. MOHR, JR 3,082,702

TIMING BODY RAILWAY CAR Filed Sept. 24, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ira/$14163 6&QEZ'MOH1? Ja March 26, 19.63 A. MOHR, JR 3,082,702

TILI'ING BODY RAILWAY CAR Filed Sept. 24; 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 \Qk 0: air 34 34/ I 24 17a 50 4 Eda-661? Qbe1ef M0142 Je aabzercep March 26, 1963 A. MOHR, JR 3,082,702

TILTING BODY RAILWAY CAR Filed Sept. 24, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent I se 3,082,702 Patented Mar. 26, 1953 3,082,702 TILTING BODY RAILWAY CAR Albert Mohr, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assignor to John Mohr dz Sons, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 763,135 3 Claims. (Cl. 105-271) My invention relates to an improved hot metal mixer car which is characterized by spherical bearing surfaces that accommodate uneven track without undue wear.

More particularly, the structure of the present invention is a hot metal mixer car having a lengthy cylindrical molten metal carrier with its two ends mounted on a pair of spaced main frames for rotational movement about a horizontal axis for discharging the contents of the carrier. Each of the main frames is supported by a main truck, the support being through the medium of a spherical ball and socket joint. Each such joint has a vertical pin which is fixedly secured to the main frame and rides in an elongated opening in a cooperating guide member on the corresponding main truck. Each of the main trucks is similarly carried by a pair of sub-trucks, through the medium of two additional spherical ball and socket joints. The sub-trucks have vertical pins extending through the centers of these joints and in fixed relation to the sub-trucks. Each such pin rides in an elongated slot in the cooperating socket. Each of the subtrucks is carried on the rails by four wheels.

The car is of great weight. Empty, the container weighs about 100 tons and has a refractory lining weighing about 60 additional tons. The charge may weigh as much as 200 tons, giving a total weight carried on the spherical joints of over 350 tons. Because of this great weight, there is a considerable tendency for the supporting parts to wear as the car traverses uneven tracks. However, the construction of the present invention accommodates the track unevenness in a manner that does not give rise to undue wear.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide an improved hot metal mixer car.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hot metal mixer car capable of carrying a great quantity of molten iron over track with unevenness and yet without undue wear.

Further it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hot metal mixer car utilizing sphericalsupport joints in cooperation with anchoring pins to accommodate the track unevenness without binding, without undue wear, and in a manner giving the entire unit lateral stability as required to permit rotation of the hot metal container and discharge of its contents.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved but metal mixer car of the above type in which track unevenness is taken up in part by the subtrucks in relation to the main truck and in part by the main truck in relation to the main frame.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved hot metal mixer car having spherical support joints in which there is substantial longitudinal freedom of movement but limited lateral freedom of movement.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an improved hot metal mixer car of the above type in which lateral motion of the spherical support joints is limited in part by support pads located on an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the car and in part by anchoring pins cooperating with the spherical joints.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved hot metal mixer car which is adapted to transport great weights of molten metal over uneven tracks without incurring undue wear, is economically manufactured, reliable in operation and is particularly suited for iron reduction plants.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a complete hot metal mixer car constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the car shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical axial cross-sectional view with parts in elevation of one of the main spherical ball and socket joints used in the rail car of FIGURES 1 and 2 and the related parts;

FIGURE 4 is a similarly enlarged vertical axial crosssectional view with parts in elevation of one of the spherical ball and socket joints on a sub-truck of the car of FIGURES 1 and 2, and related parts;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the spherical ball and socket joint members of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the spherical ball and socket joint members of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a partial enlarged cross-sectional view with parts in elevation through axis 7--7, FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view with parts in elevation of the ball and socket joint of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary view showing the shape of the guide opening in the main truck; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary view showing the shape of the guide opening in the sub-trucks.

There is shown generally at 10, FIGURES 1 and 2, a hot metal mixer car constructed in accordance with the present invention. This car consists of an elongated cylindrical container 12, having tapered ends 12a and 12b and an opening 18 through which hot metal is discharged into the container. As hereinafter described in detail, the container 12 is rotatably mounted on the main frames 14 and 16 which are in turn carried by the main trucks 22 and 24. The latter are carried respectively by the sub-trucks 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d, as shown in FIGURE 2. In use, the container 12 is filled with molten iron from a blast furnace while in the position of FIG- URES 1 and 2, The car is then transported on wheels 32 and 28 over the rails 20 to the discharge point, such as the metal receiving opening of an open hearth furnace. The container 12 is then rotated by energizing the electric motor 11, which serves to rotate container 12 through the medium of worm gearing (not shown). Pouring spout 18a or 18b of the discharge opening 18 is then brought to the lowermost point in the container and the molten metal thereupon discharged.

The weight of the car illustrated is great. The container 12, for example, alone weighs about tons. It is provided with a brick refractory lining which adds another 60 tons to the weight. The metal charge in the container may be of the order of 200 tons. Moreover, the rails 20 normally are somewhat irregular in practical usage of the car. Such irregularities require that the trucks 30a, 30b, 30c, and 300!, be capable of rotating in relation to each otherespecially about horizontal axes transverse to the direction of the rails 20without binding. Moreover, it is necessary to provide a construction in the car 10 that will accommodate this movement without undue wear of relatively moving surfaces. As hereinafter described in detail, the necessary flexibility without undue wear is accomplished through the use of main spherical ball and socket joints shown generally at 3 35 having bearing surfaces 35a FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, and the sub spherical ball and socket joints shown generally at 51, FIGURES 1 and 2.

The main frame 14- consists of a base 14b, FIGURE 2, defined by a plurality of vertical webs secured to a horizontal plate. A cab 14a is formed above this base. The cab is broken away in FIGURE 1 to show the trunnions 14c mounted on the base 14b, the motor 11, carried by the base 14b, and the other parts in the cab. It will be noted that the spaced trunnions 14c serve to hold the base 14b and the main frame 14 against tilt in relation to the container 12 about any axis other than the longitudinal axis of the container 12.

The other main frame is indicated at 16. It consists of spaced trunnions 16a mounted on the rigid base 16b which is generally similar to the base 14b of the main frame 14. That is, the base 1617 consists of vertical support plates afiixed to a horizontal floor plate to define a rigid unit. The main frame 16 can rotate in relation to the container 12 only about the axis of container 12 in much the same manner as frame 14. The sleeve 13 serves to anchor main frame 16 against longitudinal movement in relation to the container 12.

The construction of the main frame 16 and the support members therefor is best seen in FIGURES 3, 5, 7 and 8. As shown, the base 16b of the main frame 16 has a series of long vertically oriented web members 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, and 17e. These are affixed, as by welding, on the top and bottom edges to the top plate 19 and the bottom plate 21, thereby defining a rigid structure. Between the vertical plates 17c and 17d there is a relatively heavy horizontal plate 15, FIGURES 3, 7 and 8. At its bottom face, this plate receives the downwardly convex spherical joint member 34, which mates with the plate 15 and is secured thereto by welding or similar means (not shown). A bolt 44 extends downwardly through bore 34b of member 34. The bore 34b expands into pocket 36 which receives collar 44a of bolt 44. The bolt is drawn up by nut 46 in cooperation with collar 44a to make it rigid and unmovable with respect to member 34. A tongue 44d on bolt 44 fits in a slot 34d in joint member 34 to prevent the bolt from rotating in the joint member.

Ball member 34 has a spherical bearing surface 34c having a center 34a located along the axis of the bolt 44. The mating socket member 38 has a cooperating spherical bearing surface 38c which is concave upwardly as shown. This socket member is mounted on the main truck 24, being secured thereto by welding or other suitable means. It will be noted that the central portion 38a of member 38 has a tapered bore 38b of sufficient diameter to receive the bolt 44 without binding.

Socket member '38 is also provided with oil feeder lines 40 which extend into depressions 42 located on hearing surface 38c. The lubricant is forced fed into lines 40 from a supply (not shown) to insure maximum lubricating action between the bearing surfaces.

The main truck 24 consists of a top plate 24a and a bottom plate 24b, separated by a plurality of longitudinal vertical web plates 240, thus defining a rigid and very strong structure. The top plate 24:: has an opening 24d of sufficient size to pass the bolt 44 without contact. The lower plate 24b is provided with an elongated opening 27, shown in detail in FIGURE 9. It will be observed from FIGURES 7 and 9 that the width of this opening is just slightly greater than the diameter of the bolt 44. However, the length of the opening 27 is relatively large, so that the main frame and the main truck can tilt in relation to each other about a horizontal axis through the center of the ball surfaces 34- 38 and at right angles to the length of the container 12. It will be noted that the bolt 44 receives a washer 44b and nut 440 at its bottom end.

The main truck 24 is also provided with tilt checking elements which prevent tilt of the main truck 24 with respect to main frame 16 about the longitudinal axis of carrier 12. These elements are stop faces 29 and 31 which are mounted on truck 24 and frame 16 respectively. Stop faces 29 are located on either side of the ball and socket joint on a horizontal axis through the center of the joint at right angles to the length of the container. They are mounted on top plate 24aas best seen in FIGURE 7.

Stop faces 31 are coextensive with and in spaced relation to stop faces 29 and depend from bottom plate 21 of main frame 16 as best seen in FIGURE 7. It will be noted that the gap between the stop faces 29 and 31 is less than the gap separating bolt '44 and the width of slot 27. Any tilt of truck 24 about the longitudinal axis of container 12 is taken up by stop faces 29 and 31 before bolt 44 engages the side of slot 27, which will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

The operation of ball 34 and socket 38 is as follows. The great weight of container 12 is distributed evenly over bearing surfaces 34c and 380. Because these surfaces are spherical in conformation, the downward face will be equal at all points and also be distributed over a wide surface area. If the rail car 10 travels around a relatively sharp curve, the truck 24 will rotate with respect to end frame 16. The socket 38 will accordingly rotate about the longitudinal axis of pin 44. There is no peripheral displacement of bearing surface 38c with respect to bearing surface 34c, except for rotational displacement. Both bearing surfaces fully mate with one another and the load distribution remains the same.

Unevenness in track 20 causes tilt of main truck 24 with respect to main frame 16. Tilt about the longitudinal axis of container 12 is severely limited by stop faces 29 and 31. Tilt about the horizontal axis normal to the longitudinal axis of container 12 is permitted to the extent of the diameter of tapered hole 38b and the length of slot 27. The spherical nature of bearing surfaces 34c and 38c causes the great weight of container 12 to be evenly distributed so that wear and binding are reduced to a minimum.

Tilt caused by unevenness in rails 20 is also taken up by the sub-ball and socket joints 51 joining the main trucks 22 and 24 and the sub-trucks 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d as best seen in FIGURE 1. Referring now to FIG- URES 4 and 5, bottom plate 24b of main truck 24 receives a bolt 56 which is secured thereto by nut 58. The bolt 56 extends downwardly through bore 5% of ball element 50. Ball 50 depends from bottom plate 24b as shown, and is afiixed thereto by welding or similar means (not shown). The ball 50 has a spherical bearing surface 500 which mates with the spherical bearing surface 540 of socket member 54. The bolt 56 has a collar 60 which is received in pocket 52 of ball 50. Tapered hole 54b bored in socket 54 is coextensive with pocket 52. The bolt 56 extends through tapered hole 54b and terminates with washer 57 and nut 58 which are received on its bottom end. Bolt 56 has a tongue 56a which fits in a slot 50a in ball 50 to prevent the bolt from rotating in the ball.

Socket member 54 is supported by vertical plates 63 as shown. Plates 63 are provided with access openings 63a. A horizontal cross-piece 64 extends between both plates. An elongated slot 61 is centrally located in crosspiece 64. Bolt 56 passes through slot 61 as shown.

Ball 50 and socket 54 operate in much the same manner as balls 34 and sockets 38 of joints 35. Tilt about the longitudinal axis of container 12 is limited by the narrow dimensions of the width of slot 61. The bolt 56, which is of slightly less diameter than the width of slot 61 (as shown in FIGURE 10), contacts the sides of the slot when there is such a tilt.

Tilt about a horizontal axis extending through ball 50 and socket 54 and normal to the longitudinal axis of container 12 is limited by the length of slot 61. It will be noted that slot 61 is much longer than it is wide, thereby affording a greater degree of tilt about the axis, normal to the longitudinal axis of container 12. The bolt 56 engages the ends of slot 61 to limit this tilt.

Spherical joints 35 and 51 cooperate to take up any unevenness in track 20 over which car 19 is travelling. The spherical bearing surfaces distribute the great Weight of the car evenly and restricts tiltaaout a horizontal axis parallel to longitudinal axis of carrier 12.

While I have shown and described a specific hot metal mixer car embodying the present invention it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and al-' ternative constructions can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. We therefore intend by the appended claims to cover all such alternatives falling within the true spirit and scope thereof.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A rail car for use on track having substantial variations in slope, comprising in combination: a pair of spaced main trucks; a pair of longitudinally spaced sub-trucks supporting each main truck; a ball and socket joint in supporting relation between each sub-truck and its main truck; a bolt extending through each ball and socket joint, each bolt being supported in one member of each ball and socket joint and slidably received in a longitudinally elongated slot in the other member or" each ball and socket joint with the slot being only slightly wider than said belt; a main frame supported by each of said main trucks; a ball and socket joint in supporting relation between each main truck and its corresponding main frame; bolts extending through each ball and socket joint respectively, each bolt being supported in one member of each ball and socket joint and slidably received in a longitudinally elongated slot in the other member of each ball and socket joint with the slot being only slightly wider than said bolt; an elongated cylindrical molten iron container rotatably supported at each end on the main frames, said container having a pouring spout extending over a part of its periphery and located intermediate the main frames; and means on at least one main frame to rotate the container about its longitudinal axis.

2. A rail car for use on track having substantial variations in slope, comprising in combination: a pair of spaced main trucks; a pair of longitudinally spaced subtrucks supporting each main truck; a ball and socket joint in supporting relation between each sub-truck and its main truck; a bolt extending through each ball and socket joint, each bolt being supported in one member of each ball and socket joint and slidably received in a longitudinally elongated slot in the other member of each ball and socket joint with the slot being only slightly wider than said bolt; a main frame supported by each of said main trucks; 2. ball and socket joint in supporting relation between each main truck and its corresponding main frame; bolts extending through each ball and socket joint respectively, each bolt being supported in one member of each ball and socket joint and slidably received in a longitudinally elongated slot in the other member of each ball and socket joint with the slot being only slightly wider than said bolt, each of said main frames and the corresponding main truck having interengaging stop faces spaced laterally of the ball and socket joints, respectively, and operative to seat upon lateral tilt of the main frame in relation to the main truck before the bolt engages the side of the slot; an elongated cylindrical molten iron container rotatably supported at each end on the main frames, said container having a pouring spout extending over a part of its periphery and located intermediate the main frames; and means on at least one main frame to rotate the container about its longitudinal axis.

3. A hot metal mixer car for use in tracks having irregularities, comprising: an elongated hot metal mixer container having a longitudinal axis; a main frame located at each end of the container and supporting the same for movement about said longitudinal axis; means on one main frame to rotate the container in relation to the main frame; a main truck under each main frame and supporting the same, each main truck having a centrally disposed member defining an upwardly spherical concave surface and each main frame having a mating member defining a downwardly spherical convex surface, a bolt afilxed to the main frame and spherical convex member assembly said bolt extending downwardly through the mating spherical surfaces, the upwardly spherical concave surface having an opening of suificient size to receive the bolt without contact, each main truck further having a lower horizontal plate spaced a substantial dis tance below the spherical concave surface and having a longitudinally elongated opening receiving said bolt, the width of said opening being only slightly greater than said bolt; a pair of sub-trucks under each main truck, each sub-truck having a centrally disposed member defining an upwardly concave spherical surface and each main truck having a mating member defining a downwardly spherical convex surface, each main truck further having bolts afilxed to the main truck and spherical convex member assembly and extending downwardly through the mating spherical surfaces to the sub-trucks, respectively, the upwardly spherical concave surface in each instance having an opening of sufiicient size to receive the bolt without contact; each sub-truck having a lower horizontal plate spaced below the respective spherical concave surface thereon and having a longitudinally elongated opening receiving the respective bolts and only slightly wider than said bolts thereby restraining the main truck and sub-truck against tilt about axes parallel to said longitudinal axis of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 954,560 Astrom Apr. 12, 1910 1,442,151 Howard Jan. 16, 1923 1,635,910 Tucker July 12, 1927 1,751,065 Alden Mar. 18, 1930 1,839,701 Pollock et al. Jan. 5, 1932 1,936,343 Barrows Nov. 21, 1933 1,995,166 Astrom Mar. 19, 1935 2,150,896 Muchnic Mar. 21, 1939 2,151,391 Pugh Mar. 21, 1939 2,151,392 Pugh Mar. 21, 1939 2,229,768 Pfiager Jan. 28, 1941 

1. A RAIL CAR FOR USE ON TRACK HAVING SUBSTANTIAL VARIATIONS IN SLOPE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A PAIR OF SPACED MAIN TRUCKS; A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED SUB-TRUCKS SUPPORTING EACH MAIN TRUCK; A BALL AND SOCKET JOINT IN SUPPORTING RELATION BETWEEN EACH SUB-TRUCK AND ITS MAIN TRUCK; A BOLT EXTENDING THROUGH EACH BALL AND SOCKET JOINT, EACH BOLT BEING SUPPORTED IN ONE MEMBER OF EACH BALL AND SOCKET JOINT AND SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN A LONGITUDINALLY ELONGATED SLOT IN THE OTHER MEMBER OF EACH BALL AND SOCKET JOINT WITH THE SLOT BEING ONLY SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN SAID BOLT; A MAIN FRAME SUPPORTED BY EACH OF SAID MAIN TRUCKS; A BALL AND SOCKET JOINT IN SUPPORTING RELATION BETWEEN EACH MAIN TRUCK AND ITS CORRESPONDING MAIN FRAME; BOLTS EXTENDING THROUGH EACH BALL AND SOCKET JOINT RESPECTIVELY, EACH BOLT BEING SUPPORTED IN ONE MEMBER OF EACH BALL AND SOCKET JOINT AND SLIDABLY RECEIVED IN A LONGITUDINALLY ELONGATED SLOT IN THE OTHER MEMBER OF EACH BALL AND SOCKET JOINT WITH THE SLOT BEING ONLY SLIGHTLY WIDER THAN SAID BOLT; AN ELONGATED CYLINDRICAL MOLTEN IRON CONTAINER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED AT EACH END ON THE MAIN FRAMES, SAID CONTAINER HAVING A POURING SPOUT EXTENDING OVER A PART OF ITS PERIPHERY AND LOCATED INTERMEDIATE THE MAIN FRAMES; AND MEANS ON AT LEAST ONE MAIN FRAME TO ROTATE THE CONTAINER ABOUTS ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS. 